James Brown Soul Syndrome (Henry Stone Records)

By 1980 James Brown did one album for Henry Stone's T.K. While this doesn't have Brown bubbling over with innovation, he still provided a more substantial alternative to disco. On this album, we have a sublime sped-up version of "The Payback," which rocks like nobody's business. Or on the remake of "Mashed Potatoes", Brown is reuniting with Bobby Byrd. Shortly afterward they both go through a travelogue of cities and states like it's "Night Train" all over again. Soul Syndrome has Brown still full of ideas. The inane "Funky Men" has a killer reggae/funk guitar riff and a fantastic Latin horn arrangement...In the end, it makes it a nice album that counts in the rich carrer of the master of Funk !